"We never monopolized our relationships with Arab countries. Those are sovereign governments, and they could have normal relationships with Western countries, with Russia, so it is their sovereign decision… So we are for a normal relationship with Arab countries," Safronkov said.
The diplomat stressed that Russia’s diplomatic thinking process would refuse to accept the "monopolized right to interfere" in the affairs of another country, bringing to mind the 2003 US War on Terror in Iraq.
"First of all, [the United Nations] Security Council never gave its authorization… Military intervention created many problems… But another aspect of intervention is that a political vacuum was immediately filled by terrorist organizations, and now we have such a challenge as Islamic State," Safronkov reiterated.
Moreover, Russia is a strong advocate for friendly ties between regional and sectarian rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, with both of which Moscow maintains a constructive relationship, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vladimir Safronkov told Sputnik.
The Daesh, terrorist group is a radical Sunni group banned in a range of countries, including the United States and Russia. It operates primarily in Syria and Iraq but also conducts attacks on other countries around the world.
